Before the string of acclaimed 1990s dramas that he is best known for, director Jonathan Demme turned his humanist camera on the subjects of three quirky, stylish comedies.  Combining a unique ear for music with intimate close-ups and empathy for outsiders, Demme brought life to losers, free spirits, and mobsters.

Screenwriter and novelist Dalton Trumbo was blacklisted by Hollywood following his appearance in front of the House Un-American Activities Committee in late 1947. Refusing to testify about his or anyone else’s involvement with Communist organizations, Trumbo was found in contempt of Congress and served eleven months in a federal prison. Following his release, and working through fronts and under pseudonyms, Trumbo embarked on a decade of high-quality work, often at low-budget studios.